Giving Tuesday

"You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixon" Now that you have that tune in your head come along and sing this song and join the family... wait sorry I don't mean to confuse you with another song. Go back to That Rudolph melody up there and try singing this; You Know Halloween, Thanksgiving, Black Friday  And Cyber Monday But do you recall the most   Important Sale day of all? Giving Back Tuesday  Today Had a VERY shiny no....  wait.  What do you think could we keep going with that lil jingle?  Oh I think we could, but I don't want to scare you off before I spread the word about what an important day it is TODAY. Give Back Tuesday.    or as NPR(yes I listen to NPR, and yes I am old, and No I'm not offended by that) and CBS called it Giving Tuesday. “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” That's right folks you heard it here first. The first Tuesday after Thanksgiving has been named Giving Tuesday. And why not? There should be a day that we all remember to give during this holiday season. You thought that was what Christmas was for, but nope. Today is a day to give not to just those you know but to those you don't know. To not just give wants, but actually provide needs. “In giving you are throwing a bridge across the chasm of your solitude.” Antoine de Sante Exupery Honestly, I had no idea that this day even existed until I heard it on the radio yesterday morning. Good ole' NPR educating and what not. Be honest did you know TODAY is Giving Tuesday? Probably not. To be fair I think this is the first one.  “Giving is a universal opportunity. Regardless of your age, profession, religion, income bracket, and background, you have the capacity to create change.”Laura Arrillaga Andreessen

In the NPR report, they said that most people who give to charities are 65 years and older and that non-profit organizations have had a really hard time reaching or motivating younger groups to even donate let alone on a certain day. They also said they felt that was due to the lack of social media's that non-profit organizations don't really play a big role in. Hmm... SO I thought, why not start a trend. I'm not 65 years OLD, But I'm also not 20 years young either. Maybe between the two of us we can meet in the middle and get this word out ABOUT Give Tuesday So here are some other ladies who wanted to give back and have provided some pretty great ways to do  just that.  Carina over at Lovely Little Whimsy came up with this cute little button and a link up for us all to enjoy giving together. Go check out some of the ideas she has for ways to give back and then don't forget to link up with her, and I will be there too!  Claudia has another great way to give back to the blogging community. I believe with all my heart in the power of words and every year when I send out my Christmas cards I pray over each and every address and family that I give those Holiday greetings to. There is power in our words, and power in our prayers so lets give those out in our cards this year. Head over to Lashes and Beard and sign up for the Christmas card swap. And finally, one more final note (and I promise it's not from another silly song)on this GIVE Tuesday I would just like to encourage you to look around. Today as you head out the door, remember that each and every person you see has a story.  They have a mom and a dad and people that gave them their start. Some had good starts with great support, but many do not.  Remember that sales clerk at Macy's has a story. Remember that man outside in the cold ringing that bell for the Salvation Army has a story. Remember that your child's teacher has a story. Your hair dresser has a story. “To the wrongs that need resistance, To the right that needs assistance, To the future in the distance, Give yourselves.” Carrie Chapman
Remember that as you walk down the street the mom at the bus stop might just need an extra minute to tell you her story. Even if you have heard it a thousand times, LISTEN. Giving doesn't mean you have to go buy a big screen TV for someone, it can simply mean you smile long, and hard, and on purpose. Look and Listen for ways to GIVE on this 2012 TUESDAY.

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38